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Page 282
to follow those who had held him. How could I know how long it would take him to loose himself? Or how long it would take him to find his way here? I bade them leave him near the edge of the wood, but they could not leave him too near. He could have turned about and gone completely astray."
"Who knows of this business?"
Alinor thought that over, then shook her head stubbornly. "They are mine, to me," she said. "They will not betray me. They have never betrayed me, no matter what I bid them do."
"And you think I will betray them?" Ian's voice rose again.
"Of course not," Alinor assured him seriously. Then she smiled. "You will confuse them. In your desire to save me from myself, you will either forbid them to do such things another time, or you will bid them come to you for confirmation of such orders from me, or you will try to explain to them the danger to me in their obedience in performing such acts. In another place or with a different woman, it might do well enough. But I am the Lady of Roselynde, and these people have obeyed my lightest breath for nigh on twenty yearsno matter who was my husband."
"Now you listen to me, Alinor!"
She rose and went to him, grasping his upper arms gently. "No, Ian, you listen to me. I do not do this to dim your pride or to make my power blind your eyes. I trust you. I know you would never do me any hurt for any reason. But think. It is not a natural thing for men, even such men as these, to obey a woman. I dare not break their habit of obedience. Some day Joanna will be the Lady of Roselynde. If she marries Geoffrey and he lives, all will be well and you may say my care was wasted. But if she marry another, or Geoffrey should die and some king should press upon her some brute There may not be a kind Ian to protect Joanna as you have protected me. Even if her vassals are loyal,

 
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